It was always going to be a challenge 

Finding ourselves 3-1 down from the first leg in Gothenburg last week, the return game was always going to be a tough one.

Our opponent, BK Häcken, won the Allsvenskan (Swedish top-flight league) last season for the first time in their history and they’re currently second in the table.

Our team spirit was good though – it always is – and the players approached the game with a positive and professional mentality.

 

The first goal was a crucial one

Assuming there was a goal, of course, the first one was always going to have a massive impact on the game.

If The New Saints found the back of the net, it was 3-2 on aggregate and most definitely a case of ‘game on’.

However, if the visitors scored then, at 4-1, the mountain became even harder to climb.

Sadly, it was the latter, and a cruel goal it was indeed to concede. Ibrahim Sadiq’s strike in the 19th minute took a deflection that gave Connor Roberts no chance.

 

Heads didn’t drop

Although we came out for the second period well aware of the situation, the players kept going and never gave up.

In fact, just four minutes in and Josh Pask went close, as his effort from inside the penalty area rattled the advertising boards just wide of the post.

This was followed by Danny Davies and Ryan Brobbel also going for goal.

Replacing Pask in the 73rd minute, Ash Baker (lead image) was close to grabbing a brace in three minutes as his attempts on goal were just off target.

 

A very late goal wrapped up the win for the champions of Sweden

In added time at the end, although they had already won the tie by then, BK Häcken made sure that they secured victory in the game as well when they scored from close-range, courtesy of Momodou Sonko.

Was a 2-0 victory – or defeat, depending on how you look at it – a fair result? Do you think it was a true reflection of the game?

 

We go again

Reference has already been made to the team spirit at The New Saints and you can never underestimate the value of that.

Although we are out of the Champions League, we still have a second bite of the cherry, as we drop into the Europa Conference League.

At the time of writing, we don’t know who our opponent will be but the first leg is confirmed for this coming Tuesday (July 25) at Park Hall.

The players and staff have a full week to prepare and one thing that we can say with absolute confidence, is that they will put the BK Häcken defeat firmly behind them, as they focus on a fresh challenge.

 

Lead image courtesy of Phil Blagg.